The Silence of “Amen!” from the Home

I recently read about an Amazon search that caused me to take a deep breath and catch my bearings as a husband and father. The search was conducted in May 2007, where an Amazon search for books under “parenting” listed 49,314 books. If those books were an average of one inch thick and you were to stack one on top of the other, the stack of books would total4,109 feet high. That stack of parenting books would be more than twice the height of the Sears Tower, which reaches 1,450 feet into the air in downtown Chicago, IL. The same stack of books would be twice the height of the Freedom Tower (pictured) that is currently under construction with a projected height of 1,776 feet in New York.

Yet, there is One Book, that reaches much higher. It is the Bible, the Word of God. All of those other books are dead and powerless to issues that many of the hearts in homes all across America are dealing with these days. But, the Word of God is alive and powerful and speaks with great clarity to the issue in Colossians 2:8-10:

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; [10] and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.“

Multitudes of families in the church cannot say “Amen!” because many families are ‘not according to Christ.’ Many Christian homes resemble very little of the basic biblical roles found in the next chapter of Colossians… where six words settle each role in the Christian home: Husbands, love; Wives, submit; Children, obey. The husbands are not giving their wives the love she most desires. The wives are not giving their husbands the respect he desperately needs. And children are not getting the attention and instruction they require from their parents. There is the silence of “Amen!” from the home simply because there is limited love, submission, and obedience. What has happened?

There has been the spoil of the home. In verse eight, we are warned of being cheated, spoiled “through philosophy and empty deceit.” Yet, many of the homes that make up our churches across America have been cheated for generations now simply because of following the world’s way of raising a family. Over the years, decay has set in on the majority of American families from sea to shining sea and as a result, those families have been spoiled and robbed of God’s activity in their own home.

Think with me for a few moments: In the 1950’s, kids lost their innocence. They were liberated by music, films, education, and money. In the 60’s—the time of the rebellion—children lost their respect for authority. All of the answers from previously respected authority were rejected. Kids rebelled against parents, religion, and government. And when it was all over with—there was nothing left to reject—and there was nothing left to believe. In the 70’s, the ME decade took over. Not knowing how to love, young people substituted sex for love. They didn’t know the difference. Through 80’s and 90’s, the downward spoil of the family continued, resulting in alarming divorce rates and an outburst of homosexual activity… and there were story lines of students of all ages killing their teachers and classmates. By the time the year 2000 rolled around we no longer needed God in our families, finances, faith, or even in our future… “We can do it without you, God! We have arrived!”

There has been the secularization of the home. In the same verse (eight), we are also warned about the influence of “the tradition of men and the basic principles of this world.” It is very obvious today that the average Christian home looks and identifies more with the secular society than it does the Supreme Savior they claim to know. In our day, fundamental decisions concerning the family are made without even considering a biblical perspective or thinking through a theological position. Jesus Christ is not even invited to the table where family decisions are made. We are more interested in an opinion or viewpoint of another. Simply put, it is idolatry in its most seductive form.

As I was preparing to preach my first message on the family in NE Ohio last year, I did my own Amazon search just out of curiosity. This is what I found…

On May 26, 2012, I searched for “parenting” books on Amazon’s website and the search listed 85,808 books!! In just five short years, the amount of secular babble on parenting doubled… and the babble is getting much louder. Considering the same thought process mentioned earlier about each book being an average width of one inch, these books stacked one on top of the other would total7,150feet high. By the way, a mile is 5,280 feet.

Shortly after that, I did a follow-up search on Amazon for “Christian parenting books” and the results listed just 6,395 books. If those books were an inch thick and you were to stack them one on top of the other, those books would only total 533feet high.

Which leads me to the following conclusion… There is the sadness of the home. In verse eight there is this sad reality for the majority of “Christian” homes… four very pointed and powerful words… “not according to Christ.” Most of our homes would fall into the category of “not according to Christ.” That’s not the sad part though. The sad part is that many “Christians” are rejecting simple, clear teaching from Scripture and we just don’t want it God’s way. So we look to someone other than Christ for their opinion and viewpoint on the issues within our homes.

What a sad, sad reality. The lives in our homes could be shaped and influenced by Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth; the maker of you and me. But, many are choosing their reasoning based on feelings, thoughts, philosophies, opinions, and even rationalizations, over Christ.

Sad.

We have turned to the “so-called experts” to influence our decisions as husbands and wives, as moms and dads. It is sad because we have chosen the ways of the world and heeded the voice of the enemy. We have been cheated from experiencing the glory of God in the place many of us would say matters most, our homes. No wonder there is the silence of “Amen!” from the home.

Instead of lifting our hands in surrender to Christ, we have raised our fists in the air toward God and have demanded our way and made our choices. Could it be that the average Christian home in America is in a stronghold because they have exalted themselves against the knowledge of God? Do they not realize that they are becoming bitter instead of better? Do they see that they are living in bondage rather than living in blessings… full of fear with no faith (2 Corinthians 10:1-6)?

Spoiled. Secularized. Sad. Silence.

My prayer is that God would send a fresh move of His Spirit into each heart in each home all across America. As a result, many homes would confess our sin(s) and seek His face for forgiveness all the while asking Him to transform our hearts with His fullness, completing us for His glory.

Would you join with me in praying and believing God for revival and spiritual awakening that results in generational transformation?

About Keith Boggs | Follow him on Twitter @KeithABoggs. Connect with him on LinkedIn.Director. Revivalist. Conference Speaker. Prayer Summit Leader. Men’s Ministry Coach. Teacher. Author. Blogger.
He is the founder of REAL MOMENTUM Ministries, Inc., and is passionate about seeing a movement of men unleashed and unhindered for the glory of God at home, in the church, and around the world. Keith also serves as a staff revivalist with Life Action Ministries. He and his wife, Nichole, live in Georgia. They have been married for 15 years and have 8 children. They make a great team leading family conferences and retreats together.Contact him today about the possibility of having him come and speak. Learn more about what others have to say.

Join the discussion 2 Comments

I hear you, brother! I am finding it increasingly difficult to protect my young daughters from the secular world, even though my wife and I teach them every day with a Bible study, pray every night with them and then bless them before bed.
But I do know this God is in control, and prayer and devotion to Christ works, especially in the darkest times, and I will not fear!
Praise be to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!